You couldn't keep Ray Lewis out of a game with a sprained shoulder. I know it is difficult to put myself in his place, but he needs to "Cowboy Up" and take the field. We need Suggs intensity and relentless pursuit of Rothliesberger on Sunday. Big Ben is still feeling the effects of that spinal contusion; a few good hits on him and he might be out of the game!

Suggs will play.

Thanks Mike for some useful information. This is what we need from the insiders. Not your opinion on whether the Ravens and Steelers wanted to play each other again.

I thought Edgar Jones played TE ?? Suggs needs to get on the field he wants to get paid this offseason

had they signed suggs to a contract like they should have at the beginning of the season I think he DEFINITELY would play in this game. Now that he doesn't have a contract for next year one can't blame him if he decides not to play. Having said that I think the SIZZLE will be there come sunday nite!!

If Suggs has a bad enough sprain no matter how much will he has to play he will not be ready to go, It will probably take a minor miracle for him to be ready by Sunday. Let's hope if he can't play we can somehow get by the Steelers and he will be ready for the Super Bowl!

Mike,

Can you tell us what is going on with Ray Rice? Is he too hurt to be effective? Are the coaches more concerned about him holding onto the ball? I don't know much, but it seems to me that he could be a good weapon if we set him up for screens.

It's a tough call. He may be lookng to his long-term future. Further hurting his shoulder this week could keep him off the field all next season.

This is not the time for weakness. He needs to wear the brace. If he can bring it like Pete used to that will be just fine. Man up Sizzle!!!

How can some of Raven's fans be so optimistic with the Steelers on Sunday? It's time to get real, Pittsburgh is running on fresh legs and no injuries to speak of and had little more than a walk in the park against the Chargers in addition to the bye week. Write this one off and wait till next year.

Uh, we're talking about the AFC Championship Game here. Every living, breathing, sentient soul on the team is going to play. This game is why they live. Sugg's response is a ploy. He will play with one shoulder if he has to.

just wondering if this has anything to do with his contract status and possible desire to not injure the shoulder further while only on a one year deal.......wonder if his agent changed his mind during the week about not playing

I hope Suggs can play, but trust me the more important factor is Rolle. Without solid corners in at the same time (Rolle & Washington) Rex won't blitz or nearly as much. If he blitzes or uses creative schemes, this will tremendously expose Walker with one on one coverage; and if we are unable to put pressure on Roethlisberger than that's when he can sit back there and pick apart our exposed secondary. Do you realize that each game during the end of the season, when our defense would let up drives toward the end, either Washington or Rolle were out in the 4th quarter for some periods of time. Fans would comment that we went to a "softer" or "prevent" defense which wasn't intentional; it was simply because we did have the capable secondary coverage due to injuries. What's a shame and also ironic, is that (AND TRUST ME I HOPE I AM WRONG) if we get beat bad because of the inability to run our normal and creative schemes and blitzes, Rex's value as a head coach somewhere might be "re-assessed" based on how he would do with normal players as opposed to some of our pro-bowl studs. Washington and Rolle are just so solid when they communicate with Reed along with Leonard, but without one of them (like Rolle and his amazing speed and quickness) this will really hurt us.

Plenty of us would've LOVED to see the Ravens beating the stuffing out of the Chargers. That was certainly NOT an opinion.

I am a Steeler Diehard Fan, but once again, I give credit to your team, and I beleive the two best teams in the league will be playing on Sunday at 6:30. To bad one of these teams will not advance to the Superbowl, they both deserve to be there. As far as Suggs is concerned, the trash talker, it is time to put up or shut up, as someone stated before me, Lewis would play, or can it be, that Suggs is worried about Hines Ward throwing a block on him, oh thats right, it would have to be a cheap shot. Raven fans, good luck to your team, and may the best team on this Sunday win, which I have to say will be the STEELERS.

Suggs will be fine (it never hurts to leave the other team unsure about his status). The main concern is Rolle. Groin injuries can take a while to heal, and are easily re-injured. It just depends upon the extent of the original injury and his body's ability to heal.

I heard the interview -- unlike most of the people posting here, it seems -- and it made me think Suggs will be out. I've never heard him that downbeat and quiet before and it made me feel like he must know it's unlikely he'll be playing. He said the shoulder popped out and then back in, and Harbaugh said he had an MRI. Makes it sound a lot more serious than the "sprain" it's being called. Also -- Suggs has never had a scratch on him before in his entire career. Now he knows he's not invincible and I bet he'll have a hard time playing hurt (if he plays) on Sunday -- simply because he's never done it before.

let's look at this logically: suggs got hurt during a closely contested game which was not decided until tennessee did not convert on 4th down. he did not return to the game, and harbaugh did not say that he would be fine or play. let's look at it realistically: he is likely not going to play. this is no different than the kevin mawae injury to the titans center last week.

can we please get some updates on the other and equally significant injuries:
-s. rolle's groin
-l. mcclain's ankle
-f. washington's shoulder
-w. anderson's stinger

Smoke and mirrors. The man will play.

I didn't think Edgar Jones was the Backup. They have always brought Jameel McClain in for pash rush before. I Think he even has a couple sacks. I checked the depth chart on Ravens web site and it lists Barnes (IR?) as Suggs Backup and Jameel McClain for the other side with Jones as third string

Suggs needs to rest for next week...oh thats right, there won't be a next week if we don't win! Tough it out, the team needs you!

Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now. The Steeler D will go down as one of the best all time, especially when they win the Super Bowl. Maybe next year Ravens.

I think it is deplorable how quick the "fans" on this blog are to criticize Suggs. The man has never missed a big game for us. In fact, he hasn't missed a game for us at all in like six years! Doesn't that give him a little credibility? Obviously none of you have ever called in sick from work (that would make you hypocrites) but in the NFL believe it or not there is more to overcoming an injury and getting back on the field than just finding the will to play through pain. Its not just a question of whether Suggs can play through the injury, its a question of whether he can play WELL through the injury, and actually be helpful to the team, and if Suggs is wincing every time he makes contact with the O-line and trying to tackle Roethlisberger, the truth is he may not be an asset this week. Maybe the Ravens are realizing that in practice and considering the possibility that going with a backup might be a better option than Suggs at 50% or 75% or whatever he is at.

I can't believe how quickly you guys are ready to throw Suggs under the bus. He wants money--yeah sure, every player wants money. And Suggs deserves money. All he's done is turn in another pro bowl year, and been the freaking Cal Ripken of the Ravens in terms of consistent playing. And still I see you all saying "Ray would never miss this game" when in fact it is Ray who is playing his first 16-game season since like '03.

I'm certainly not criticizing Ray or trying to make Suggs out to be perfect, but just so you know players do get actually legitimately injured in the NFL. And while some players i'm sure do fake or exaggerate injuries, I for one find it highly unlikely that a player who has never missed a game would sit out the biggest game of his career unless he was really to hurt to play

suggs will play, ravens will win and steeler fans will look for an excuse. same old same old. headline " steeler's lose again in afc championship game".

If Sizzle does'nt play look for Pitt to hit that side hard and often.Need a couple yds. for a first down?Go where Suggs should be playing.No science here; the D will be handicapped but losing Terrell should'nt be an automatic game breaker.Rex and the boys will have to practice adjustments before the game is on.Now a decent pass rush might suffer the most.T Suggs always attracted a couple blockers and when he was hot..........

They've been way to conservative and they've gotten away with it because they have unquestionably the best defense in the league for the last 8 years........ and its not even close...you must realize the strain that they've been under...Billick-itis for 9 years and now 1 year of we're so affraid to let this mentally slow quarterback be exposed to a pass rush where his brain will be overwelmedand he'l make a mistake .....pittsburgh always has a healthy offense, the Ravens still have an anemic offense.....Flacco is much improved but still a liability....even so they have to let him try and win the game..... they cannot keep thinking that they they can pound Leron Mclain for 30 carries for 45 yards and get to the superbowl its not going to happen ...it plays right into pittsburghs hands...they have a great defense.... if you siffle your self they have an inpenatratable defense..... you have to open it up......speed is a necessity.... Ray Rice equals speed for the Ravens Offense.....They have to get him and Mcgahee the ball in space with screens, as slot receiver's etc.......Clayton runs routes directly at defenders with no sense of urgency and no elusiveness....like a zombie, even though he plays with the greatest route runner of all time Derrick Mason....unbelievable...Heap is like a frail brittle old woman...he used to be so tough and durable but Billck and Boller ruined him ...hes a shell now like Mcalister....Washingtons softness and fear of playing football are surpased only by Yamon Figurs...Remember this is the man who Ozzie newsome said was better than Leodis Mckelvin, Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, Mike Jenkins and any corner in the 08 draft.....he is only a trackman and couldnt tackle a a crippled old man...... nor does he try to....and if he does tackle you can be sure he'l get up holding some body part and heading to the sideline...he should have easily tackled Chris Johnson and Cobb the previous week.

I am a DIE HARD RAVEN'S FAN so I want the Ravens to win. The Steelers fan are just as cocky as their team!! I hope Suggs plays and I am sure he will. It's going to be a mini Super Bowl on Sunday with the Ravens and Steelers. I just want to see a good game!!! Remember Steeler fans ANY GIVEN SUNDAY!!

Just from watching the Ravens as a fan, my thought is, if Suggs can go, he will. But it's possible he's too hurt to play. Shoulder injuries can be debilitating - it's possible he can't even lift his hand above his waist right now. I, fo one, won't be second-guessing Suggs if he doesn't play. That just tells me he's simply too hurt to offer anything to the team while on the field. And there's no shame in being severely injured.

I hope Suggs can play Sunday because as good as Ray "the Fink" Lewis is at 'backer he has never brought his A Game to the Steelers not even in those lopsided Baltimoron wins. Suggs has and will challenge the Steelers, Lewis just acts the dope!!
Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl I got a feeling

Rob - Yamon Figurs is a wide receiver and kick/punt returner. Who do you want him to tackle? He is not a cornerback.

two great teams, 2 great cities Great passion, GO STEELERS

A highly reliable source told me he would not play for fear of injuring the shoulder further , if he was under long term contract with the Ravens he would play but because they franchised him he will not,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it is a business you know...............not surprised....................Go Ravens...........

Rob, don't underestimate Joe Flacco. How many rookies won their first 2 playoff games regardless of mental awareness? We do need Ray Rice and McGahee running around wild. No way we bust it up the middle, just won't happen. Gotta keep Pburgh guessing. With that said, I don't see Cam changing the formula much from last week. Don't expect Pitt to turnover the ball like Tn did. We need game changing plays from special teams, like a real decent runback or 2

"We're so affraid to let this mentally slow quarterback be exposed to a pass rush where his brain will be overwelmedand he'l (sic) make a mistake...Flacco is much improved but still a liability..."

Man, what Ravens QB have YOU been watching for the past 18 weeks??? Mentally slow? A liability?

Hey, the Squealers may beat the Ravens this week-- or maybe not-- but get real. Joe Cool "mentally slow"... that's a good one.

hey guys can we just have a little intervention . we all know the national media will not give us our do credit all I have heard all this week is that titans got beat by a bad call when time ran out on clock . Well if you see it that way what if the ref's didn't make a bad call against the ravens against this same Stellers team , calling a ball that should have been one the one yard line a Touchdown . oh please .You fake stellers fans you know what the truth is they lost that game . so sunday will make up for that . Bring on your terrible towels , but the only thing they will be good for is wiping your tears . May the real AFC champs step up . Stellers won AFC north on bad call . They will lose the AFC championship in a battle . Suggs is just one man ; the ravens are team . Teams that play together are the one that win games . The stellers will be stell no more , more like ALUMIUM FOIL .

Replacing Rolle and Suggs at the same time is double murder - for coverage (Rolle) and pressure on BenBoy (Suggs). I say they'll both give it a try out there on Sun., Let's hope they can go most of the way.

With or without Suggs, the Ravens haven't been getting to QB's for several games!!!

Suggs will play, period. There is no way they will be able to keep him off the field. He is tough and professional. Only a sissy like Romo would bail on his team like that. Suggs won't leave us hanging he loves this team and the fans. Romo might not care about his team or fans but Suggs does, so he will play for sure.

Garrett you don't know what you're talking about. If Suggs has a severe sprain or AC joint separation no amount of "cowboying up" will allow him to play with any effectiveness. This is a guy who has never missed a game. Please don't question his toughness. I knew when I saw the amount of pain Suggs was in on the turf in Nashville that the chances of him being ready for the Steelers was very slim.